Friday, 27 December 2013

This is another recent image taken in Arunchal Pradesh by Jeanie Jones from Dumfries. It is of a lovely group of Meconopsis simplicifolia. In general this species tends to be monocarpic - that is die after flowering - and regretably these are usually the best forms. I suspect this group belong to a monocarpic strain and will die after flowering this year. Having said that one or two of these plants do look asa though they may be multi-rosetted and perhaps will flower again next year. I doubt any will be truly perennial like good forms of M. grandis. There are forms of this species reported that may be perennial, but those I have seen are usually with small poor flowers. This species differs from other blue poppy species (like M. grandis and M. betonicifolia or baileyi) in that the filaments that have the anthers attached are a good blue colour.